M-(1-methylhexyl)phenyl n-methylcarbamate



3,052,866 Fatented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,866 M-(l-METHYLIiEXYL)PIIENYL N-METHYL- CARBAMATE Joseph E. Moore, Pinole, Joseph N. Ospenson, Concord, and Gustave K. Kolm, Berkeley, Calif., assignors to California Research Corporation, San Francisco, Calif.,

a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed June 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,567

1 Claim. (Cl. 260-479) This invention relates to a new compound; namely, m-(l-methylhexyl)phenyl N-methylcarbamate and its use as a cholinesterase inhibitor in agricultural pesticide formulations.

One of the ultimate criteria relating to the effectiveness of certain agricultural pesticides which function as digestive and/or contact toxicants is their ability to inhibit the cholinesterase enzyme system of the animal parasite. This type of functional activity is primarily responsible for the effectiveness of at least two of the recognized classes of synthetic organic pesticides; namely, the phosphates and carbamates. Recently, the pesticidal effectiveness of certain carbamic acid esters has been recognized, and efforts have been directed to the synthesis and development of specific carbamate esters of increased cholinergic activity.

There has now been discovered a unique compound, namely m-(l-methylhe'xyDphenyl N-methylcarbamate, whose anticholineste'rase activity is markedly superior to one of its homologs which is recognized as one of the most active carbamate esters previously known. In fact, the cholinergic activity of the invention compound is of the order of twice as great as the activity of its homolog, namely, m-t-butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate. This outstanding activity as a cholinesterase inhibitor accentuates its effectiveness as an agricultural pesticide and particularly its application as a digestive and/ or contact toxicant for the purpose of inhibiting the cholinesterase function in the cold-blooded animal parasites such as insects, mites, nematodes, arachnids, etc.

The invention compound m-(1-methylhexyl)phenyl N- methylcarbamate, which is definitive of the following structural formula,

may be prepared (1) by reacting rn-(l-methylhexyl)- phenol with methylisocyanate or (2) by reacting m-(lmethylhexyl)phenol or the corresponding metal phenate with phosgene followed by reaction of the resulting intermediate chloroformate with methylamine.

Of particular significance to the production of the subject cholinesterase inhibitor is the particularity of the alkylphenol reactant and its eifect on the final carbamate ester composition. Both the meta positioning and the secondary heptyl or l-methylhexyl radical itself have been found essential to achieve the unique cholinergic activity of the resulting carbamate ester. It is furthermore appreciated that, depending on the method of preparing the alkylphenol, there may exist a variation in the composition of the m-(l-methylhexyl)phenol reactant. Such variations include the existence of both ring position and side-chain structural isomers. Accordingly, for optimum cholinergic activity, it is desired to employ a m (1-methylhexyl)phenol composition which, following reaction to form the carbamate ester, will result in a N-methylcarbamate ester composition containing at least percent by weight of the m-heptylphenyl ester of which at least 90 percent by weight consists of the l-methylhexylphenyl ester. While it is preferable to utilize a substantially pure m-(1-methylhexyl)phenol reactant, it is difiicult to separate, with a practical method, the m- (l-methylhexyl)phenol from its isomers in the form of the free phenol. However, the reactions to produce the carbamate ester permit a more facile separation of the undesired isomers and, accordingly, the composition specifications are based on the composition of the final carbamate ester.

One of the methods of preparing the m-(l-methylhexyl)phenol reactant involves the alkylation of a halobenzene with heptene-l, heptene-Z, or a normal or a sec, heptylhalide in the presence of a Friedel-Craft catalyst and subsequent hydrolysis of the m-sec. heptyl halobenzene to the corresponding phenol.

The following examples are illustrative of the preparation of the invention compound.

EXAMPLE I Preparation of m- 1 -Methy lhexyl) Phenol 315 grams of bromobenzene and 13.0 grams of AlCl were added to a flask equipped with an agitator, condenser, thermometer and dropping funnel. 134.7 grams of l-chloroheptane were then added dropwise at 0 to -10 C. over a period of 45 to 50 minutes. After all was added, the temperature was raised to 50 to 55 C. and maintained for one hour. It was then cooled and quenched in dilute HCl. The organic phase was separated, washed twice with water, dried and distilled. The desired l-methylhexyl bromobenzene was collected at to 157 C. at 15 mm. It amounted to 99 grams. 7

A Monel high-pressure bomb was charged with 60' ml; of l-methylhexyl bromobenzene, 30 grams of NaOH, 350 ml. of water, and one gram of Cu Cl It was then heated at 300 C. for 21 hours. After cooling, the charge was removed, acidified and extracted with ether. The ether phase was washed with water, dried over Na SO and stripped. The residual oil was then distilled in vacuo. The desired l-rnethylhexyl phenol was collected at 91 to 103 C. at 0.6 mm. and amounted to 36.0 gram-s.

EXAMPLE II Preparation of m-(1-Methylhexyl)Phenyl N -M ethy [carbamate 25.0 grams of l-methylhexyl phenol, 7.2 grams of methylisocyanate and one drop of pyridine were sealed in a tube and heated at 60 C. for 16 hours. The resultant oil was then distilled. The desired m-(l-methylhexyl)phenyl N-methylcarbamate was collected at 141 to C. at 0.7 mm. A total of 21.0 grams were obtained.

A nitrogen analysis Was obtained and resulted in calculated 5.62%, found, 5.31, 5.29%. The infrared spectrum indicated a very high meta content with negligible amounts of ortho and para isomers.

In the application of the subject compound as a chloinesterase inhibitor, considerable variation in its formulation may be employed. Thus, m-(l-methylhexyl)phenyl N-methylcarbamate may be applied per se or in combination with other active ingredients in both solid or liquid pesticidal formulations. As an example, m-(l-methyl- .hexyl)-phenyl N-methylcarbamate may be formulated into a wettable powder by incorporating it with appropriate quantities of a solid inert carrier, such as talc, limestone, bentonite, diatomaceous earth, etc., and suit able wetting and emulsifying agents, such as the anionic and/or the nonionic surfactants. This mixture is thoroughly mixed and ground to a suitable particle size. For liquid formulations, the subject compound may be dissolved in hydrocarbon solvents or polar solvents or combinations thereof, depending upon the concentration desired, to which a minor quantity of a nonionic or anionic surfactant is added to provide emulsifying and wetting properties. Such liquid concentrates and wettable powders permit easy dispersion in water to practical field dilutions.

The outsanding cholinergic activity of the invention compound is demonstrated by the following standardized test procedure. The activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase involves a reaction function with the substrate acetylcholine resulting in the formula of choline and acetic acid. In this test, the enzyme activity is determined by the amount of acetic acid liberated and is measured in terms of the change in pH in the presence of a standard buffer solution over a definite time period. The results are reported as the 1 value which is defined as the quantity of inhibitor measured in micrograms per milliliter gamma/ ml.) which gives 50 percent inhibition.

For this test, acetylcholinesterase was obtained as a purified and stabilized enzyme from bovine erythrocytes; and the butter employed contained 0.0367 mole sodium diethylbarbiturate, 1.20 moles potassium chloride, and 0.008 moles potassium dihydrogen phosphate per liter adjusted to a pH of 8.0. A stock solution of the candidate inhibitor containing 1 mg./ ml. in methanol was prepared. Aliquots were then diluted with water to the test concentrations, which are usually between 0.01 and 10 gamma/ml. A series of concentrations are run concurrently. 1.0 ml. of the inhibitor solutions, adjusted to the test concentrations, is added to a 10 ml. beaker containing a magnetic flea. Simultaneously, a stop watch is started and 2.0 m1. of a standard enzyme plus buffer solution are added. The contents are agitated thoroughly and placed in a bath maintained at 25.0:01" C. After exactly 30 minutes, there is added 0.1 ml. of a standard acetyl choline bromide solution which had been allowed to come to the bath temperature. Following thorough agitation, the covered beaker is returned to the constant temperature bath. At exactly 90 minutes, the pH is measured on a Beckman Model G or equivalent pH meter.

The percent inhibition is then calculated from the pH values obtained for the blank, uninhibited enzyme, and the candidate inhibitor. A curve is then prepared by plotting on semi-logarithmic graph paper the concentration of the inhibitor in gamma/ ml. on the log scale versus percent inhibition on the linear scale. The curve will be S-shaped. The concentration Where the curve crosses the 50 percent inhibition mark is the I value.

The superior cholinergic activity or cholinesterase inhibition of m-(l-methylhexyDphenyl N-methylcarbamate is attested by the following results in comparison with its homolog; namely, m-t-butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate.

Compound: 50 m-t-butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate 0.11 m-(l-methylhexyDphenyl N-methylcarbamate- 0.07

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claim.

We claim:

M-( l-methylhexyDphenyl N-methylcarbamate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,485 Aeschlimann July 16, 1940 2,362,508 Stevens et a1 Nov. 14, 1944 2,677,698 Deutschman et al. May 4, 1954 2,776,197 Gysin et al. Ian. 1, 1957 2,843,519 Fitch July 15, 1958 2,854,374 Huisman et a1 Sept. 30, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Kolbezen et al.: Agricultural and Food Chemistry," vol. 2, pages 864-70 (1954). i j 

